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The Bernstein Brief: Kane Story Difficult To Cover

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 01: Patrick Kane #88 of the Chicago Blackhawks looks on after losing to the Los Angeles Kings in Game Seven of the Western Conference Final in the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at United Center on June 1, 2014 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

By Dan Bernstein–CBSChicago.com senior columnist

(CBS) It’s an enormous story, but there’s little for anyone to do.

The police aren’t talking, prosecutors are silent and TV crews sat all day yesterday waiting for an appearance that never occurred. Today they stake out law enforcement officials again.

Terse statements from the NHL, the Blackhawks and Patrick Kane’s agent all said the same thing, which was that they were best served saying nothing.

Kane is reportedly accused of rape. We have no confirmation of where he was or where he is now.

One of the most popular athletes in Chicago is at the center of a criminal investigation, and whatever information became available early yesterday has been the sum total of it. The rest is marking time until he is or isn’t charged, which could still be days or weeks as evidence is collected.

We wade through the filthy river of texts, emails and phone calls that reinforce the rape culture endemic to sports; trying to balance reasonable discussion of any potential outcomes with the awareness that this isn’t about hockey right now, not about Stanley Cups or a salary cap. Not yet.

Most importantly, we have to be mindful that as we wait, there’s an alleged victim waiting, too.